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To ma ximize its use of scal
resources, the Army's project
manager for the Stryker bri-
gade combat team (PM SBCT)
initiated a groundbreaking double-V-hull
(DVH) exchange program in response
to an urgent requirement for additional
DVH vehicles at a reduced overall cost.
eir DVH vehicles cost 40 percent less
than their newly constructed counter-
parts and highlight new partnerships
between the Army and industry.
Working with Anniston Army Depot,
AL, and General Dynamics (GD) Land
Systems, the Army developed this pilot
program to validate whether components
from traditional Stryker at-bottom-hull
(FBH) variants could be refurbished
expeditiously and installed on a new,
more survivable DVH at a lower cost than
producing a new vehicle. e process
includes reusing common parts and mis-
sion equipment packages (MEPs) from
existing FBHs, refurbishing them and
reusing the parts in the new DVH struc-
ture. e DVH exchange vehicles have
the same capabilities as new-production
DVH vehicles at an average cost savings
of 40 percent, depending on the variant.
Attaining that cost savings took some
brainpower and experience.
" e
exchange program is considerably
harder to organize than a new procure-
ment," said LTC Eric Frutchey, PM
SBCT's product manager for Stryker
eet management within Program Exec-
utive O ce Ground Combat Systems
(PEO GCS).
"With a new procurement, we know how
many vehicles to build and exactly how
many new parts are needed. With the
exchange vehicles, knowing what will
be needed is a bit tougher," he said. "We
know how many of each variant we will
be exchanging, but we don't know which
parts on those variants are going to need
to be replaced," he explained.
During the disassembly of the two ini-
tial pilot FBHs, which began in July
2012, every step was painstakingly docu-
mented. e engineering e ort produced
vital working tear-down and rework
directions that will be examined to nd
further e ciencies as well to help deter-
mine exact costs.
" e biggest lesson we learned from the
pilot vehicles [was that] we need to make
sure that the personnel at Anniston have
extra time to inspect the vehicles in order
to get parts, including long-lead items, on
order," Frutchey said. "Many of the parts
are easily accessible. However, for longer-
lead items, we are taking steps to ensure
that we have a small volume on hand to
cut down on the lead time," he added.
THE NEED FOR STRYKER DVH
At the end of 2009, evolving threats
in Afghanistan led to the generation
of an urgent requirement to increase
the protection level of Strykers. As a
result, the hull design of the at-bottom
Stryker vehicles was changed to a more
survivable structure.
During this time, the Stryker
modernization program was beginning
to develop a similar capability, but it was
eight years away from production. e
Army and industry believed they could
accelerate the e ort to meet the urgent
need in theater, and the Stryker DVH
was born.
From the outset, the DVH program was
a success. Design, testing, production and
elding were accelerated, and the vehicle
was provided to Soldiers within 18 months.
e DVH provides Soldiers with a
level of protection consistent with the
Mine Resistant Ambush Protected
vehicle while maintaining the Stryker's
signature mobility. As of February 2013,
Stryker DVH variants had been in the
ght for more than 20 months. ese
vehicles have been attacked more than
REUSING MISSION EQUIPMENT
Stryker DVH exchange vehicles have proven to be as effective and reliable as new vehicles, while
costing 40 percent less than a newly constructed Stryker. The largest portion of the savings for
the exchanged vehicles comes from reusing the MEPS from the FBH vehicle. (Photo courtesy of
General Dynamics Land Systems)
April--June 2013
Army AL&T Magazine
26
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